Key Highlights
- MakerDAO's pivotal decision: The rationale behind transitioning DAI to a free-floating model.
- Regulatory developments: Tether's stance on freezing Tornado Cash addresses and U.S. lawmakers questioning Treasury sanctions.
- Ecosystem updates: ENS DAO's domain expiration, Coinbase's cbETH launch, and Uniswap Foundation approval.
- Community initiatives: Plancker DAO and Scroll's grants for Ethereum Chinese developers.
The Merge Updates
Critical Node Operation Warning
Geth developer Marius van der Wijden warns against running multiple beacon nodes with a single execution layer (Geth) node due to security risks. Validators should use 1:1 node pairings.
Source: Twitter/@vdWijden
Coinbase Launches cbETH
Coinbase introduces Coinbase Wrapped Staked ETH (cbETH), an ERC-20 token representing staked ETH on Coinbase. Users can trade cbETH while ETH remains locked.
👉 Learn more about cbETH
Source: Twitter/@coinbaseassets
Flashbots Protect Temporary Shutdown
Flashbots Protect will pause during The Merge, resuming after MEV-Boost becomes active (~10 epochs post-merge). MEV-Boost enables validators to outsource block building to specialized entities.
Source: Flashbots Blog
12th Mainnet Shadow Fork
- TTD: Estimated around August 31, 20:00 UTC.
- Config: GitHub.
Layer 2 Progress
Arbitrum Nitro Upgrade
- Launch: August 31 with 2–4 hours of downtime.
- White Paper: Details next-gen Optimistic Rollup tech.
Source: Twitter/@ArbitrumDevs
StarkWare Enhances Cairo with Lean
StarkWare uses Lean programming to verify Cairo code, improving contract security. A recent audit fixed signature verification flaws.
Source: Twitter/@StarkWareLtd
Ecosystem Spotlight
MakerDAO’s Free-Floating DAI Explained
Co-founder Rune’s key points:
- Regulatory pressure: DeFi must operate as neutral infrastructure or face exclusion.
- RWA risks: Government actions (e.g., collateral freezes) now occur without warning.
- Endgame Plan: MetaDAOs and protocol-owned vaults stabilize DAI’s value post-float.
👉 Full forum post
Source: MakerDAO Forum
Tornado Cash Sanctions Debate
U.S. Congressman Tom Emmer’s 7 questions to Treasury:
- Who controls the sanctioned Ethereum addresses?
- What criteria define "technology" sanctions?
- How can smart contract addresses appeal?
Source: Twitter/@RepTomEmmer
Tether’s Non-Freeze Policy
Tether won’t freeze Tornado Cash addresses without direct law enforcement requests.
Source: Twitter/@Tether_to
Project Updates
Uniswap Foundation Approved
- Funding: $74M from DAO treasury ($60M for dev grants).
- Goal: Boost open-source development and governance.
Source: CoinDesk
ENS DAO’s eth.link Expires
- Issue: Domain tied to Virgil Griffith’s inaccessible account.
- Alternative: Use
eth.limo.
Source: Twitter/@ENS_DAO
Gitcoin Grants Round 15
- Chinese Ethereum Fund: $50K DAI pool by Plancker DAO and Scroll.
- a16z Pledge: $300K for open-source devs.
Source: Twitter/@PlanckerDao
FAQs
Q: Why did MakerDAO float DAI?
A: To mitigate RWA risks and avoid centralized control demands from regulators.
Q: Can users recover funds stuck in Tornado Cash?
A: Currently, no clear path exists without OFAC guidance.
Q: What replaces Flashbots Protect post-Merge?
A: MEV-Boost will enable competitive block-building markets.
Disclaimer: Content is compiled from primary sources and subject to change. For ongoing redistribution, contact [email protected].
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